2020 Angus Convention Simplified to 137 th Annual Meeting

2020 Angus Convention Simplified to 137th Annual Meeting Annual event modified to accommodate COVID-19 restrictions in Kansas City

The American Angus Association® has made the difficult decision to reformat the 2020 Angus Convention originally scheduled for November 7 through 9 in Kansas City, Missouri. Considering the current gathering restrictions created by COVID-19, modifications were necessary to balance the health of attendees and the need to conduct the business of the Association. The event will be a two-day meeting on November 8 and 9 and will continue the long tradition of holding an annual meeting of delegates that has occurred since the inception of the Association in 1883. The National Angus Tour and trade show portion of the event have been canceled and the number of educational sessions will be reduced but virtual options for members and attendees will be offered.

“The health and safety of Association members, guests and staff remains our top priority,” said Mark McCully, Association CEO. “While no technology can replace the value of an in-person gathering, we believe offering virtual attendance options this year is the responsible thing to do. We plan to offer a modified format, allowing for both an in-person annual meeting and a virtual educational experience for those who would like to join from home.”

Socially distanced educational sessions, an awards dinner and fundraiser will be hosted on Sunday, November 8. Guests who register online can partake in the virtual educational sessions held throughout the two-day event. Association leadership will provide several updates and educational workshops. Each day will be headlined with keynote speakers to inspire attendees to advance their operation.

The American Angus Association Board of Directors candidate forum and state caucuses will proceed as scheduled and will be webcast for those not in attendance. The 137th Convention of Delegates will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, November 9. If members are unable to attend in person,

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Dixon and Spradley Judging Contest where he placed second Receive Young high individual and was a member of the 2019 International Champion Texas Tech Cattlemen’s Meat Judging Team. Britt will be graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science degree and will Scholarship continue on to Veterinary school where he will pursue his Doctorate of Veterinary MedB ritt J. Dixon, Roswell, and Katelin icine. He plans to eventually open his own Spradley, Cuba, were awarded the mixed practice and give back to the proNew Mexico Cattle Growers’ Associagrams that molded him into who he is today. tion (NMCGA) Young Cattlemen’s Katelin is the 5th generation of her Leadership Committee (YCLC) Graduate family to be involved in their commercial Scholarship in the amount of $250 this cattle operation near Cuba. She was summer. Dixon is the son of Barry and Traci involved in 4-H and FFA and also served as Dixon of Roswell, and Spradley is the the 2013-2014 New Mexico and National daughter of Craig and Casey SpradJunior Beef Ambassador. This prompted ley of Cuba. Kaitlin to pursue a degree in Agricultural Britt grew up with a passion for producCommunications and Animal Science at tion agriculture that inspired him to want Oklahoma State University. While at OSU, to become a mixed practice veterinarian. Katelin was involved in numerous student He found his start judging 4-H and FFA organizations, including the Oklahoma where he competed in Meats, Livestock, Collegiate Cattlewomen, Agricultural ComWool and Dairy. Britt attended Clarendon municators of Tomorrow, and the McKnight College, where he competed on the 2017 Scholar Program. Katelin also served as a Clarendon Meat Judging leader within the Ferand Livestock Team. He guson College of received top 4 individual Agriculture and later as honors at all of the junior an Ambassador. In 2019, collegiate competitions she graduated Summa and was named as 1st high Cum Laude and was individual on the A-Divihonored as a Ferguson sion First All-American College of Agriculture Team. He graduated in Senior of Distinction. 2018 Valedictorian of ClarAfter completing an endon College. Britt internship in Minneapcontinued on to Texas olis with a national Tech where he continued creative agriculture his career path in Meat agency, Katelin began Evaluation, and attended her master’s program the Meat Judging Conferin Agriculture Commuence in Wagga Wagga, nications at Texas Tech Australia. He concluded University. She curhis judging career at the rently works as a International Collegiate Katelin Spradley, Cuba Graduate Teaching

Assistant for the Department of Agricultural Educations and Communications and will graduate in December 2020. She plans to return to New Mexico to work in the agriculture industry for awhile before starting her own creative agency serving agriculture and natural resource business in New Mexico and the surrounding area.

Each year, the NMCGA awards the YCLC Graduate Scholarship at their summer meeting. Applicants must be New Mexico residents, and come from a beef cattle production background, but not necessarily pursuing a degree in an agricultural field. NMCGA membership is not a requirement, but members and their families do get preference. ▫

ANGUS

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they can attend virtually, and voting delegates will have a virtual participation option.

“The decision to modify the event and the business meeting was not taken lightly,” McCully said. “We still look forward to seeing our members in Kansas City, and if not, we hope you join us online. Give the office a call if you have any questions regarding your registration.”

The Association knows its membership is resilient, and the COVID-19 pandemic has affected us all in different ways. Offering a modified format for this industry-leading event aligns with our heritage of innovation and progress, and the Association thanks its membership for cooperating during these trying times.

For more information regarding the 137th Annual Meeting, please visit www.angusconvention.com, where there is an updated schedule and information about registering or modifying a registration. ▫